Does the art world exist or is it a figment of our imagination?

Does the "Art World" actually exist? This topic was started on Linkedin with the preface that the art world exists only in our imagination. While this is an interesting concept I disagree: I do believe the art world is real . We create art that we (the artists) like to look at or we wouldn’t be creating it. If our creation resonates with the public, then we get recognized by the “Art world”. Artists, who have been recognized, never question whether or not the “Art World” exists.
The local art world certainly exists for all of us who have contact with other artists. As to the question is there is a vast "art world" out there, whether or not it exists for individual artists depends on the definition of it: Recognition by buyers? Well we all know the buyers are out there. Getting found by them is another matter. Recognition by the news media? Again the issue is which artists are they looking at? Certainly there are trends in what is considered popular in art. Who sets these trends? Well, I think ultimately they are set by ideas of what people want to see in their homes or offices: Art that people like to look at. It is up to us whether or not we make use of these trends to be recognized by the “Art World” at large.